Crackle Review: An In Depth Look at the Free Streaming Service

Crackle is a streaming service. One thing that sets it apart, as you will see in this Crackle review, is that Crackle is free. Not only is it free, it’s ad-free. So, if you’re a little light on the entertainment portion of your budget, Crackle is a great way for you to enjoy movies and TV without having to pay for it. As with any streaming service, there are positives and negatives. Part of me loves Crackle solely on the basis that it’s free. I think it’s great that there is an option out there that is competing with the streaming giants (Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon) without charging you an arm and a leg. Still, it’s free, and sometimes that old adage about getting what you pay for is true.

Crackle will fill a niche that isn’t filled by some streaming services. There are plenty of good options for both movies and television shows. The real gem of Crackle comes in the original content. Since you can’t get it anywhere else, the original content can lead people in and keep them around for the other movies and shows they can’t find anywhere else.

I prefer the interface on the computer or my Xbox, where the setup is similar to Netflix. The movies and shows appear in a row. The plus side here is that if you like the look of something like Netflix, you’ll get it. The negative here is if you’re not a channel surfer and don’t know what you want to watch, this system can have you looking for something idly without finding it. To combat this issue, you can make a watchlist. To do this, you just need to sign up for a free account.

Crackle Shows: What Can I Watch?

This is really the most important thing. If a streaming service doesn’t have worthwhile content it doesn’t matter if it’s free or not. You still won’t want anything to do with it. The truth is Crackle lags behind companies like Netflix in the content department, but you do need to consider it’s free. There is some good content here. If you’re looking for brand new movies, you probably aren’t going to find them, but Crackle does offer some pretty decent older films. Some currently available titles, to give you an idea of what is offered, include The Blues Brothers, Cadillac Records, The Experiment, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Insidious, Jerry Maguire, and two of the Underworld films.

TV shows are much the same way. You have a lot of older gems that you aren’t likely to find anywhere else. They even offer a couple of anime titles. The Crackle shows most likely to get attention are the original ones. Fan favorite, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is hosted by Jerry Seinfeld, and yes, it’s just what it sounds like. They also have some fictional original titles, including Sequestered, The Art of More, and upcoming show, Startup.

Is Crackle Free?

It may seem crazy, but it’s true. Not only is Crackle free, it’s also ad-free. The content may not be A-list, but you’ll find something original or not, worth watching. The quality is basic, but if you’re a snob about things like HD, you probably won’t be in love with it. It’s clear and easy to watch. It’s not poor quality. It’s just not top tier. Again, you need to consider here that it’s free and it’s highly unlikely that you’re going to find an ad-free HD streaming service with brand new films for no money.

Crackle Review Conclusion

I like Crackle. It’s not my go-to streaming service, but I check in to watch many of the Original shows and I often find movies and TV shows that are older, that I can’t find anywhere else. In the end, it doesn’t cost anything to check Crackle out and see if you’ll like it. It’s completely free, so head over and give it a shot. You might be pleasantly surprised that you did.

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Author Ashtyn Evans

Ashtyn Evans is a screenwriter and freelance writer from the Midwest. She owns nearly a thousand films on Amazon and holds streaming subscriptions to everything from HBO and Hulu to Showtime and Starz. Email her at [email protected]Disclosure: Streaming Observer is supported by readers. Articles may contain referral links. For more information, see the disclosure at the bottom of the page.